Giving Mandya to JD(S) will be suicidal for Congress: N Cheluvarayaswamy

In the eyes of former PM H,D, Deve Gowda, he is a 'villain' for having coaxed his son H.D. Kumaraswamy to join hands with the BJP to form a coalition government 12 years ago. Secondly, the former PM is angry because he engineered a defection in the JD(S) to support the Congress during the Rajya Sabha polls. However, in the changed political scenerio, the 'bad boy' is forced to have a working relationship with the party which he had quit earlier this year. Former minister Mr N Cheluvarayaswamy spoke to Deccan Chronicle on a possible pre-poll alliance between the Congress and JD(S) in the crucial 2019 Lok Sabha polls. Here are excerpts.

What are the reasons which kept you away from a joint campaign in support of the JD(S) candidate for the Mandya Lok Sabha bypoll, Mr L.R. Shivaramegowda? Was it deliberate?
I stayed away as I did not receive any invitation from JD(S) leaders. My party had to stitch an alliance with the JD(S) and allowed it to field its candidate as per directions from the party high command. I was very much present when our leader and former CM, Mr Siddaramaiah came to Mandya to hold a meeting and request us to support Mr Shivaramegowda. Subsequently, the JD(S) held several rallies in the constituency but did not invite local Congress leaders. 

The JD(S) leaders are claiming that Mandya is their  fortress and their confidence level is up after winning all  seven Assembly seats in the district. Is it true?
It is too premature to say anything till the results are announced. The margin of victory has not been very big especially in the LS election. The morale of the JD(S) is naturally high after grabbing all  Assembly seats in the district. But in the  2014 elections, C.S. Puttaraju of JD(S) had won by a thin margin of 5,000 votes. So, it is very difficult to say who holds sway in Mandya. With talk of a possible pre-poll alliance with the JD(S) in the 2019 LS polls doing the rounds and the JD(S) staking claim to Mysuru, Mandya and Chamarajanagar, we are mentally getting prepared for it. But, the results of the five bypolls will say the real story. Till then, it will be not wise to make a comment.

Do you feel a threat to the existence of the Congress in the event of Mandya  being given to the JD(S) in the 2019 LS polls?
Of course, it will definitely pose problems to the  existence of the Congress in a district which was once our stronghold. After the formation of the Congress- JD(S) coalition government, local Congress leaders and workers are facing extinction with their voice going unheard by the government. I am optimistic that our central leaders will take a wise decision before the coming general elections. More than leaders, it is our party workers  who are deeply worried about the possible alliance. Their confidence level may go down if the Mandya seat is given to the JD(S).

Has the Grand Old Party lost the confidence to take on the BJP and is therefore looking to the help of the JD(S) to fight the 2019 election?
Frankly speaking, our party has suffered a minor setback after forming government with the Janata Dal (Secular). A pre-poll survey conducted a few months ago had projected 10-12 seats for Congress but now the projected seats have come down to 7-9. This shows what will happen to our party if it goes for a tie-up with the JD(S) in the Lok Sabha polls. The 'Mahaghatbandhan' of like-minded parties may work  in other states but not in Karnataka where the JD(S) is the arch rival of the Congress party in south Karnataka. There is every possibility of we losing three to four seats if the Congress join hands with JD(S). Going alone in the Lok Sabha polls will be more advantageous to the Congress. I am of the strong opinion that the 'Mahaghatbandhan' is not going to benefit the Congress in any manner. 

At the recent Nagamangala rally, Mr Deve Gowda had accused you of playing a vital role in the formation of the coalition government with BJP in 2006. Is it true?
I have no regrets in forcing Mr H.D. Kumaraswamy to form the 20:20 month power sharing pact with the BJP. At that time, Mr Deve Gowda claimed that he did not sleep for days together because his son formed a government with a communal party. If that is true, why the JD(S patriach compel Mr Kumaraswamy to induct another son, Mr H.D. Revanna into the then Cabinet? Mr Gowda should know that Mr Kumaraswamy would not have become 'Kumaranna' for lakhs of his followers, had he not became CM and won the hearts of people by launching several welfare schemes. It is an open secret that Mr Gowda interfered in the government’s functioning and the family benefitted for 20 months. If Mr Kumaraswamy is true to his conscience, let him say that his father never meddled in the affairs of the JD(S)-BJP government. Mr Deve Gowda also owes an explanation why he did not make senior JD(S) leader Mr P.G.R. Sindhia MLC. He promotes only people of his choice. Noted parliamentarian, Mr M C Nanaiah would not have joined the Congress had the JD(S) re-nominated him to the Legislative Council.

There are rumours that you will be the BJP candidate for Mandya in the 2019 LS polls. 
Me joining the BJP...it is totally ruled out. None of them have approached me to join the BJP and contest from Mandya. I am in the Congress and I would like to be in state politics.

Will the Congress not be disappointed if the JD(S) claim the Mandya seat in 2019 after winning the bypoll?
There is no doubt about this. Why only Mandya, the JD(S) may stake its claim to Mysuru and Chamarajanagar  too. It will be very difficult for our workers to work for a rival party candidate.